Accommodating a Legend

This chapter provides a brief historical account of the career of Howard Giles. It outlines his contributions to work on communication accommodation, intergenerational relations, and the study of language in intergroup contexts. In doing so, it briefly addresses issues relating to ethnolinguistic identity and vitality, among other theoretical concepts. It closes by presenting a new schematic model outlining the ways in which Giles’ work incorporates more micro to macro levels of analysis, and more molecular and molar levels of detail. The model also incorporates Giles’ emphasis on considering life-span developmental processes in all aspects of his work. The chapter briefly introduces the rest of the book.